Part 3: Develop an honest and meaningful image
When growing a business, the company’s image is one of the most important factors of its success. Many businesses might seem like copies of others, but each business has different members, products, or messages that make it unique. Twitter pages should project the image you visualize for your company.
Consistency
In the world of business, presenting your image consistently equates to strong branding. If your business model suggests professionalism, do not try to be casual or overly humorous on your Twitter page. If you wouldn’t say something to a client or customer, then do not say it on Twitter. Ultimately, you decide on the message and brand you want to convey; unfortunately, getting that wrong can hurt your prestige as a business. You should know what your customers expect from you, and adjust your social media voice accordingly.
Balance
However, “business” does not mean “boring.” One advantage of Twitter is the natural liveliness that comes with using so few characters, and businesses should use that to their advantage. Even if you want to stay professional, posting fun articles and noting interesting events makes you look more personable. As long as your humor is not one-sided or insulting, it can be a powerful tool in gaining followers, and in turn, more business. Finding the right balance between professionalism and personality is like arranging a business-casual outfit: it gives you both a clean image and a sense of style.
Respect
Most importantly, though, make sure you respect other users and reciprocate. Twitter is a fun, fast moving tool that can lead you to more business and more contacts. If you re-tweet someone’s post, make sure to respectfully acknowledge them; they will appreciate the acknowledgement and might return the favor later. Respond professionally to direct messages and other comments, too. Don’t start debates with others or argue about issues unrelated to your business. These tips might seem self-explanatory, but so many people forget how public Twitter is. If you choose not to follow the above guidelines, people will notice, and they will mention it either publically or privately.
Hopefully, these tips for Twitter success leaves you more confident about managing a Twitter account for your business. Following these guidelines will help you grow your social media presence, and prevent you from becoming a Twitter stereotype.
These tips were inspired by the articles 50 Tweetable Twitter Tips You Wish You Knew Years Ago and Twitter Tips for Beginners.
This blog was contributed by Clearpoint Agency intern, Conner Shaw.